ALICIA BARGER, WEST DEPTFORD, SENIORA primary reason the South Jersey school will be in the hunt for the Group 2 state title resides in front of the net. Barger boasted 16 shutouts a year ago and was instrumental within a defense that yielded six goals in 21 matches.DANIELLE BENIULUS, JEFFERSON, SOPHOMOREThrust into the perilous position as a freshman, Beniulus simply responded by coming up with an astounding 172 saves in just 12 games (14.3 spg.). She figures to be even more difficult to beat this fall after time spent with the New Jersey U16 Olympic Development Program (ODP).

VICKY COCOZZA, CINNAMINSON, SENIORA miniscule 0.26 goals against average in ’10 speaks to how tough it is to slip a shot beyond the reach of Cocozza, who has accumulated 29 career shutouts over three seasons.RACHEL EGYED, CLIFTON, SOPHOMOREBeyond her agility and assertiveness, Egyed plays with a distinct poise that exudes confidence throughout her defense. She was selected to the Super Y League ’96-’97 ODP Select A team after attending its camp in Bradenton, Fla.

ALLISON JOHNSON, LENAPE, SENIORWith all the offensive firepower at the opposite end of the field, as well as the stout protection she gets from the defenders in front of her, it’s easy to under appreciate her sharp skills. Yet, when the moment arises to make a clutch stop, Johnson is always there to answer.ILLISA BLACKSHEAR, WEST ORANGE, JUNIORAnother netminder who has thrived on the national level, Blackshear masterfully cuts down angles and leaves little room to find the back of the net. She halted 145 of the 168 shots she faced last season and posted 10 clean sheets. ALANA JIMENEZ, OCEAN TOWNSHIP, SENIORJimenez makes the most of sharp instincts and exceptional footwork. Bound for Rutgers, she has figured in 23 shutouts over the previous three seasons.JILLIAN McVICKER, METUCHEN, SENIORThe veteran, who is heading to Ohio State, had a dozen shutouts as a junior. The ease at which she seizes control her area makes quality scoring chances against almost non-existent.

Aaron Houston/For The Star-LedgerVanessa Perdomo of South Brunswick is a goalkeeper to watch in 2011.

VANESSA PERDOMO, SOUTH BRUNSWICK, SENIORThe 2010 Star-Ledger Middlesex County Player of the Year has a knack for coming up big in critical situations. She shined against East Brunswick twice in the regular season, making a combined 16 saves and halted 13 more in a 1-0 overtime setback in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament final.CARLEIGH TRIVINO, CALDWELL, JUNIORA tendency to make the challenging save look routine enabled Trivino to collected 225 saves in her first full-season. Her willingness to always improve her performance, coupled with a fearlessness coming off her line, means she’ll be even harder to elude this fall.DEFENDERS

BROOKE BOLAND, PENNINGTON, SENIORManeuvering through Pennington’s defensive third is a particularly daunting task with the Old Domion-bound Boland anxious to defuse any mounting threat. She will be the centerpiece for the defending Prep A state champion, which looks to surpass the 12 shutouts it posted en route to a 16-1-2 campaign.

Martin Griff/The Times of TrentonLauren Budzinski of Robbinsville is a defender to watch in 2011.

LAUREN BUDZINSKI, ROBBINSVILLE, SENIORJust two years removed from winning back-to-back Group 1 state titles, Robbinsville is primed to make a bid at a Group 2 crown behind a defense which counts on the Villanova recruit to set the tone for the back. ERIKA JOAB, MONTCLAIR, SENIORThe cornerstone for a defensive unit that has the potential to be among the best in the state, the Maryland-bound Joab will hold things together in the center. Her powerful blasts not only trigger a counterattack, but are especially dangerous on restarts within 45 yards.SABRINA AND MONICA FLORES, LIVINGSTON, SOPHOMOREThese entertaining twins are each gifted with tremendous speed to thwart threats along the wings to complement their technical and tactical abilities. And, neither is bashful of making a rush of her own into the offensive third. MAGGIE MORASH, PINGRY, SENIORThe veteran center back, who has committed to Rutgers, is a cerebral presence who marshals in the back seemingly knowing the direction an opposing offense is going before it does. Besides being a quality tackler, Morash plays the ball out of harm’s way and ignites Pingry’s offense.

AMY PARK, WATCHUNG HILLS, SENIORThe sweeper was invaluable organizational skills in the rear of a defense that may be the most experienced part of the lineup for Watchung Hills. Park is one of five seniors who will comprise the defensive third.BRI REED AND JACKIE CAGIJAL, RED BANK CATHOLIC, SENIORSIt’s impossible not to mention one without the other. Rugged and quick, Reed, who is heading to Rutgers, relishes the chance to lock down on a forward while Cajigal, who verballed to East Carolina, relies on good peripheral vision to close on an incoming rush and has soft feet to spark the offense.

LOREN REILLY, PAUL VI, SENIORThere is no shortage of energy from this UNC Charlotte recruit. Reilly defends with passion, gets forward to enhance the midfield package and plays with infectious enthusiasm.JOHNNA TROTTER, HASBROUCK HEIGHTS/WOOD-RIDGE, SENIORAn instrumental part of 56 shutouts over three seasons, Trotter keeps order in the back by maintaining the team’s defensive shape. She offers marking support and steps in to make the timely dispossession.

ERYKA UNDERWOOD, JOHNSON, JUNIORRest assured, there will be plenty of fans beyond the boards of Clark pulling for the talented sweeper to have a great season. Underwood is back after recovering from severe burns suffered in a November accident.MIDFIELDERS

MARY ALATI, GLEN RIDGE, SENIORAlati (eight goals, 13 assists) makes the combination of creativity on the ball while going full speed look effortless. Her array of moves puts defenders on their heels and creates all the space she needs to produce a scoring opportunity.

NICOLE BAXTER, PENNINGTON, SENIORA three-sport athlete, Baxter (eight goals, 10 assists), who also plays basketball and lacrosse, thrives on a soccer field through the ease in which she controls the neutral third. Her vision when it comes to finding teammates’ feet with a crisp pass is complemented by a blistering shot. She has give a verbal to William & Mary.BRITTAIN DEARDEN, WEST WINDSOR-PLAINSBORO SOUTH, JUNIORThe same quiet feet that accept feeds and feather passes blast thunderous shots when Dearden, who has made a verbal commitment to BYU, gets in the vicinity of the goal. Dominating in the air and sound fundamentally, she accumulated six goals and seven assists as a sophomore.

Nickolette Driesse, Wayne Hills

NICKOLETTE DRIESSE, WAYNE HILLS, JUNIORWhat allows Driesse to shine is her seamless transitions within the offense. Whether she is stationed in the midfield or sliding up to play forward, Driesse (32 goals, 12 assists) is always a threat to deposit a goal or set one up.

MEAGHAN MULLIGAN, COLTS NECK, SOPHOMOREHer smart decisions in the center set the offense in motion. While her numbers may not be gaudy (10 goals, 5 assists), chances are, if you retrace the root of one of Colts Neck’s 49 goals from a season ago, she had some kind of impact in the scoring sequence.

NATASHA NTONE KOUO, EAST BRUNSWICK, JUNIORWith bursts on the ball and an efficient touch, the speedy outside midfielder can blow past defenders and take an angle to the near post to either finish or slide a feed to an open target in front. She collected seven goals and as many assists as a sophomore.TORI PRAGER, LENAPE, JUNIORVery little unfolds within the Lenape offense that doesn’t involve the center midfielder, who has already verbally committed to Rutgers. Her unselfishness on the ball was exemplified through 13 assists in ’10. Smooth interaction with fellow midfielder Courtney Kovac allows her team to control possession.

ANI SARKISIAN, CRESSKILL, JUNIORSarkisian has been quite the scorer for the Group 1 school. She set a single-season school record with 29 goals last fall and has 53 for her career. She also assisted on six strikes in 2010.

TARA SOBIERAJSKI, MORRIS CATHOLIC, JUNIORForwards and midfielders who work hard off the ball to get in position to finish will most likely be rewarded by the selfless playmaker. Sobierajski delivered 38 assists to go with 12 goals. CATHERINE ZIMMERMAN, MADISON, SENIOROne of the more unsung players in New Jersey, Zimmerman (14 goals, 12 assists), who has committed to Providence, boasts a powerful, precise shot that can unload from long distance. She is aggressive in pursuit of the ball and immovable off it once in possession.FORWARDS

JEN ANDRESEN, RAMAPO, JUNIORAndresen teams with sophomore Caroline Chagares to form arguably the best 1-2 offensive punch in the state. The two play in tandem and chances are, what one won’t doesn’t finish, the other will step up to put away.

RACHEL COLE, DWIGHT-ENGLEWOOD, SENIORIt’s tough to label the versatile Rutgers recruit, who will log time in the midfield as well as forward. But, no matter from what point she steers to goal, Cole is always looming as a goal-scoring force. She topped Bergen County with 38 in ’10. MALLORY COSTELLO, VERNON, SENIORAn integral part of Vernon’s stellar 22-0-1 campaign, that included the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament championship, Costello will not only be called on to find the back of the net, which she did 22 times, but to embody the work ethic that reaped those goals for a cast of new teammates.

STEPHANIE GOMES, KEARNY, SENIORGomes was the 2010 Star-Ledger Hudson County Player of the Year and with good reason. She displays power both fending off challenging defenders and uncorking her shot, which produced 24 goals to go with five assists.KATELYN KRAFT, ST. ROSE, SENIORThe only thing swifter than the rate the Ohio State recruit scores at is the quick feet that get her in scoring range. She has a particular penchant for scoring in the clutch; Kraft netted five of her 26 goals in the post season to fuel St. Rose to the Non-Public B state title.

Cora Littlejohns, Hunterdon Central

CORA LITTLEJOHNS, HUNTERDON CENTRAL, SENIORA staple up top since her freshman year at the Flemington school, Littlejohns is the established striker that Hunterdon Central’s offense is funneled toward. She reciprocates with a noticeable confidence in the range and accuracy of her shot, which hit its intended target 15 times last fall.MAYA PITTS, MONTCLAIR, SENIORPitts, who verbally committed to Syracuse, uses long strides and slick moves to dice up defenders along the wings. She gracefully works her way inside the final third and owns an economical finishing touch.

JESSICA PUCHALSKI, SOUTH BRUNSWICK, JUNIORSouth Brunswick put together a dynamite season in 2010 with Puchalski leading the offensive surge. She buried 20 goals and will be among the central figures on an experienced side that seeks to build off a 13-3-4 showing last fall.BRITTANY RATCLIFFE, PAUL VI, SENIORBack after missing her entire junior season with a torn ACL, the Virginia-bound Ratcliffe is back and ready to recapture her offensive magic. She can rifle through a defense with her slick moves and good speed to get her in range to unleash a laser-like shot.

MADISON TIERNAN, EASTERN, JUNIORA member of the U16 national pool and already verbally committed to Rutgers, Tiernan owns a polished game that serves her well within the Olympic Conference, which features some stout defending. Such resistance hasn’t held up against Tiernan, who scored 13 times last year and has 32 goals for her career.

TEAMS TO WATCH

GROUP 4

Katie Rigby, Lenape

FAVORITE: To fully admire Lenape, you must pay homage to the formula that has reaped four straight state titles, a cumulative mark of 93-4-3 and no signs of letting up. An attractive style of play is at its root, but so, too, is an annual blend of newcomers with seasoned veterans. Senior forward Katie Rigby, who missed last season with a torn ACL, returns to fill the place of 2010 All-Stater Kate Walters, who opted not to play in high school this year. Seniors Courtney Kovac and junior Tori Prager are dominating midfielders, defender Morgan McDevitt and keeper Allison Johnson anchor the defense and senior Shannon Westhead, a transfer from Paul VI of Haddonfield, adds to a loaded attack.CONTENDERS: Freehold Township, Eastern, Livingston, Montclair, East Brunswick, Absegami, Watchung Hills.DARK HORSES: Clifton, Toms River North, Ridge, Piscataway, Montgomery.

GROUP 3

Jen Andresen, Ramapo

FAVORITE: If you plan on beating Ramapo, you better be prepared to generate a lot of offense because its goal production won’t be scarce. Junior Jen Andresen (24 goals, 19 assists) and sophomore Caroline Chagares (21, 12) wear down defenses, but they also draw added attention that enables senior Amanda Baumgarten (11, 11) to exploit open space. Senior sweeper Madie Dalie seeks to promote a tight defensive front in the image of last year’s team that notched 13 shutouts and allowed just 15 goals.

FAVORITE: The combination of nine returning starters and some freshmen who bear watching gives New Providence reason to be excited about the chance to successfully defend its state championship. Junior striker Alex Schlobohm can bury a shot as well as set one up (14 goals, 12 assists) and senior midfielder Emma Culleton operates with similar offensive balance (9, 9). Keeper Jill Ashinsky (14 shutouts) and defender Nicole Saitta are a pair of seniors who will take charge in the back along with junior Emma Culleton, a blanketing marker.CONTENDERS: Glen Ridge, Cresskill, Emerson, Whippany Park, New Egypt, Point Pleasant Beach, Metuchen, Schalick, Glassboro, Haddon Township.DARK HORSES: Saddle Brook, Pennsville, Audubon.NON-PUBLIC A

FAVORITE: The incredible balance that was sometimes overshadowed by the magic of 2010 All-Stater Dani Colaprico should become much more apparent for Red Bank Catholic, which earned a share of the Non-Public A title last season with Immaculate Heart. Quick ball movement will accentuate all of the Caseys' assets. Junior Mackenzie Cowley struck for 20 goals a year ago while the midfield corps of Olivia DeFelice, Kristin Lopes, Kelly Henderson, Lauren Hughes, Grace Fallon and Avery Scroba combined for 28 assists. Piercing the defense is a daunting task with seniors Jackie Cajigal and Bri Reed among the state's premier defenders.CONTENDERS: Pingry, Immaculate Heart Academy, Paul VI, St. Rose, Gloucester Catholic.

DARK HORSES: Paramus Catholic, Bishop Eustace, Mount St. Mary.

NON-PUBLIC B

Tara Sobierajski, Morris Catholic

FAVORITE: Senior Shannon Coffey, who missed last season with a broken foot, joins forces with junior Cristina Nassany in the defensive third, and that makes Morris Catholic, last year’s state runner-up to St. Rose, an attractive pick. In the middle, junior Tara Sobierajski (12 goals, 38 assists) is an attentive distributor who will look to get junior forward Jessica Mangiafico involved. Freshman striker Jillian Sudo is expected to make an impact.

FRIDAY-SUNDAYMcDonogh InvitationalIf you’re looking to squeeze in one more summer road trip, travel south to Owings Mills, Md., this weekend and catch a loaded tournament featuring Pennington, Lenape and Paul VI of Haddonfield among a field of nationally ranked competition.MONDAYMontclair at Livingston, 7Arguably the top two teams in Essex County and bona-fide contenders for the Group 4 championship will convene under the lights for the first of two regular-season meetings. Among the many individual matchups to watch will be Livingston’s Clara Scher and Joanna Scotti trying to find scoring paths against Montclair defenders Erika Joab, Kaila Jenkins, Deja Davis and Annie Monaghan.

OCT. 11East Brunswick at Piscataway, 3:45These Greater Middlesex Conference's Red Division rivals bring out the best in each other. There should be no shortage of creativity in this showdown thanks to the flair of two dynamic juniors, Piscataway’s Daija Griffin and East Brunswick’s Natasha Ntone Kouo.OCT. 13Westfield at Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 4Excuse Westfield if it comes into this encounter with its Union County rival a bit ornery. Last fall, Scotch Plains, which will look to funnel scoring chances in the direction of Sarah Vanbuskirk, won both contests against Westfield, which has a midfield force in sophomore Karli Softung and junior Alexandra Tinfow.OCT. 26Pingry at Watchung Hills, 3:45The two Somerset County heavyweights will get a good primer for the state tournament in their regular-season finale. With Emily Damstrom and Shayna Blackwood up top, Corey Delaney delivering service from the flanks and Maggie Morash commanding the defensive third, Pingry has strengths in every area of the field. Watchung Hills will counter with a poised defender in Amy Park and Monique Goncalves, a swift and dangerous midfielder.